Code: 11424
Dimensions:
Introduction to Hearth Furniture and Plate Warmers
Before the widespread adoption of enclosed ovens, the open hearth formed the centre of cooking and dining preparation in British homes. A range of specialised objects developed around the fire, including trivets, footmen, and plate warmers designed to manage heat safely and efficiently. These objects reflect a period when dining relied on timing, heat control, and well organised domestic equipment.
Description of the Hearth Footman Plate Warmer
The footman is constructed around a pierced brass plate mounted within an iron framework designed to sit close to the fire. Adjustable iron bars extend from either side, allowing the width to be altered to suit different hearths or fire bars.
The brass plate features symmetrical cutwork that allows heat to pass upward while providing a stable resting surface for plates or dishes. Decorative shaping to the apron and turned brass finials add refinement.
Used directly beside the fire, this type of footman allowed plates to warm gradually before serving, helping retain heat during meals in houses where kitchens and dining rooms were often separate.
Condition
Surface wear, patina, and oxidation are present. Overall condition good and consistent with age.
Why You Should Buy
A genuinely functional survivor of the open hearth era, imagine plates warming quietly by the fire while dinner is served.
General Information
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